Emergency Information

Begin by meticulously cleaning and flossing around the sore tooth. Using warm salt water, rinse the mouth to displace any food trapped between teeth. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you place aspirin on the aching tooth or on the gum. In the event of facial swelling, apply a cold compress to the area. For temporary pain relief, acetaminophen or ibuprofen is recommended. In the case of swelling, please call our office.

Ice can be applied to any bruised areas. For bleeding, apply firm (but gentle) pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop with pressure or continues after two hours, call our office or go to an emergency room.

Remove a broken appliance only if it comes out easily. If it is lodged or painful to remove, cover any protruding edges with wax, cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum. DO NOT REMOVE any wire caught in the gums, cheek, or tongue; see your orthodontist as soon as possible. Emergency attention is usually not required for loose or broken appliances that cause no discomfort.

There are several classifications of fractured teeth. If a tooth is broken but there is no pain, this is not an emergency, but please call our office for an evaluation. If there is pain, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen and call our office. Often fractured teeth will not cause pain, but sharp edges on the tooth may cause the tongue or cheek to be sore. In this event, wax placed on the tooth will alleviate the symptoms until you are seen in our office.

Recover the tooth, making sure to hold it by the crown (top) and not the root end. Rinse, but do not clean or handle the tooth more than necessary. Reinsert the tooth in the socket and hold it in place using a clean piece of gauze or cloth. If the tooth cannot be reinserted, carry it in a cup containing milk or water. Because time is essential, see a dentist immediately or go to the closest emergency room.

In the event of a possible fractured jaw, apply a cold compress, take ibuprofen, and immediately visit our office, the office of an oral surgeon, or a hospital emergency room.

In the event a baby tooth falls out or is bleeding fold a piece of gauze or a clean cloth and place it (tightly) over the bleeding area. You can exert the pressure or have the child bite down on the gauze for fifteen minutes or until the bleeding stops. If constant bleeding persists longer than two hours, contact our office. It is not unusual for a small amount of bleeding to continue for several hours.

Tie a knot in your floss, pass the floss between the affected teeth and pull the knot from the cheek side to the tongue side. If this is not successful, please call our office.

If pain does not occur when a filling is lost, this is not an emergency, but an evaluation should be scheduled with our office. A lost filling opens the possibility of decay, enamel fracture, food entrapment, and bad breath. If a toothache does occur from the loss of a filling, follow the directions under toothache.

In the event that a crown or bridge is loose or comes off, please call our office and make an appointment to have it evaluated and recemented, if this treatment is possible. If you experience pain with the crown or bridge off, we will see you on an emergency basis. If there is no pain, we will make an appointment for treatment. While waiting for this appointment, place a small amount of Vaseline or toothpaste inside the crown or bridge and place it in your mouth. Do not wear it at night.

If the traumatized tooth is not knocked out of its normal position, then you can see us at the first available time. If the traumatized tooth has been dislodged or displaced, you need to contact us immediately or go to the closest emergency room. It is not unusual for traumatized teeth to be slightly loose or for the gum to bleed a small amount. In this case, avoid using the tooth and see a dentist at the first available time. Normally, these teeth will tighten up with rest and time.

For swelling of the gum or lip, applying a cold compress is recommended. The use of over-the-counter pain medication can be helpful in controlling the discomfort.

For deep lacerations of the gum and lips, contact us immediately or go to the closest emergency room.